For Immediate Release

Contact: Carol O’Sullivan

May 24, 2010

412-681-5449

Pittsburgh Filmmakers Announces

June 2010 Programming

(Pittsburgh, PA) – The following are descriptions of Pittsburgh Filmmakers Film Exhibition program for June 2010. The films are screened at Harris Theater, 809 Liberty Avenue (Downtown), the Melwood Screening Room, 477 Melwood Avenue (in North Oakland) and the Regent Square Theater, 1035 S. Braddock Avenue (in Edgewood). For admission prices and current showtimes call 412-682-4111. All titles and dates are subject to change, due to film availability.

The Harris Theater – 809 Liberty Ave.

Thru June 3: Vincere

Part political treatise, part heart-breaking love story this Cannes nominated film visits a secret in the life of dictator Benito Mussolini. It brilliantly personalizes Mussolini’s rise to power through the story of his seduction and catastrophic betrayal of his lover, Ida, and their son. Like much of Italy, she abandoned herself to him body and soul. But Ida – played by Giovanna Mezzogiorno, today's premier Italian actress, is in for the fight of her life. With subtitles. (Marco Bellocchio; Italy/France; 2009; 125 min)

June 8: Film Kitchen Contest Show

The Annual Film Kitchen Contest, this year themed “Fortune.” A program of short films; prize-winners announced. (8:00 showtime; 7:00 reception) Details at pghfilmkitchen.org

June 4 – 12: Art on Film Series

Presented in conjunction with the Three Rivers Arts Festival, this series is a look into the world of art and artists. It offers an eclectic mix of portraits of local artists, graffiti artists, architects, filmmakers, photographers, and art collectors – large and small. Free unless otherwise noted. The features will be preceded by short films about past Artists of Year at PCA. Schedule at: pghfilmmakers.org

Exit Through the Gift Shop (Banksy; USA/UK; 2010; 87 min) Special sneak preview screenings courtesy of Producers Distribution Agency. Film opens June 18 at Regent Square Theater.

Guest of Cindy Sherman (Tom Donahue & Paul Hasegawa-Overacker; USA; 2008; 88 min)

Lightning Over Braddock: A Rustbowl Fantasy (Tony Buba; USA; 1988; 80 min)

Herb and Dorothy (Megumi Sasaki; USA; 2008; 89 min)

The Art of the Steal (Don Argott; USA; 2009; 101 min)

Antonio Gaudí (Hiroshi Teshigahara; Japan; 1984; 72 min)

June 13: Pride Week Short Films

A program of free short films presented by the Lesbian and Gay Film Society

June 14 – 17: The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo

Based on the best-selling Stieg Larson novel, this movie is the highest-grossing Swedish film in history. It’s a gritty thriller that pairs up a middle-aged journalist with a young anti-social, tattooed girl to investigate a murder. With subtitles. (Niels Arden Oplev; Sweden; 2010; 154 min)

June 18 – 24: Survival of the Dead

Pittsburgh’s zombie czar, George Romero, is back with another chapter in the life of the undead. In his newest film we follow Nicotine Crocket the national guardsman we encountered in 2007's Diary of the Dead. With his small, heavily armed unit, he ends up on an island off the coast of Delaware, inhabited by two warring factions of ranchers. There's lots of nihilistic gore to satisfy zombie fans, while issues of tribalism, the apocalypse, and internecine conflict keep the social commentary robust. (George Romero; Canada; 2010; 90 min)

Opens June 25: No One Knows About Persian Cats

From the director of Turtles Can Fly comes this exhilarating, powerful tribute to the courage of Iran's underground musicians. It follows a scrappy young couple in contemporary Tehran trying to form a band – blues, pop, heavy metal, folk, hip-hop – you name it, sung in both Farsi and English. Forbidden by the authorities to play in Iran, they dream of performing in Europe. They plan to escape their clandestine existence, but there’s the small matter of money and passports. Persian Cats brings a fresh perspective and a dash of humor to the subject of artistic freedom. With subtitles. (Bahman Ghobadi; Iran; 2010; 101 min)

Regent Square Theater – 1035 South Braddock Ave.

Thru June 3: The Secret of Kells

Magic, fantasy and Celtic mythology come together in a sweeping story about the power of imagination and faith to carry humanity through dark times. Oscar-nominated hand-drawn animated film. (Tomm Moore, Ireland/France/Belgium; 2009; 78 min)

June 4: Mid-August Lunch

An utterly charming tale of good food, feisty ladies and unlikely friendships during a very Roman holiday, this film is an international smash hit. It’s the story of a charismatic middle-aged man and his 93-year-old mother. Broke, he is armed with only a glass of wine and a wry sense of humor. The condo debts are mounting, but if he looks after the building manager’s mother during the Pranzo di Ferragosto – Italy’s biggest summer holiday, and the Feast of the Assumption – all will be forgiven. Mid-August Lunch is both a warm family drama and a delicately balanced comedy of manners. With subtitles. (Gianni Di Gregorio; Italy; 2008; 75 min)

Starts June 11: The Human Centipede

Do not eat directly before this screening! If you are not following the internet buzz on this demented biological horror film, here’s the scoop: During a stopover in Germany while on a carefree trip through Europe, two American girls find themselves alone at night when their car breaks down. Searching for help at a nearby villa, they are wooed into the clutches of a deranged surgeon who explains a mad scientific vision to his captives. They will be part of his sick lifetime fantasy, connecting people via their gastric systems to create the first human centipede. Truly one-of-a-kind, Centipede confidently goes where few films have dared to go. *Special late night shows on Fridays and Saturdays in June* (Tom Six; 2010; USA; 90 min)

Opens June 18: Exit Through the Gift Shop

The hottest ticket at this year’s Sundance Film Fest, it’s Exit Through the Gift Shop, the first film by renowned graffiti artist Banksy, became the hottest ticket at the 2010 Sundance Film Festival where it made its world debut. Banksy is a graffiti...the first film by legendary British graffiti artist, Banksy. His work has been seen around the world, from post-hurricane New Orleans, to the separation barriers on the Palestinian West Bank. Fiercely guarding his anonymity to avoid prosecution, Banksy has so far resisted all attempts to be captured on film. Exit Through tells the incredible true story of how an eccentric French shopkeeper turned documentary filmmaker attempted to locate and befriend Banksy, only to have the artist turn the camera back on its owner – with spectacular results. The film contains exclusive footage of Banksy, Shepard Fairey, Invader and many of the world’s most infamous graffiti artists. Narrated by Rhys Ifans. (Banksy; UK/USA; 2010; 87 min)

Sunday Night Series: Summer Vacation

Movies offer a vacation from reality, measured in minutes. Some people enjoy visiting utopian worlds, while others prefer a darker, dystopian landscape – either way the BIG SCREEN puts you there. And you don’t need a suitcase. The staff of PF/PCA voted for worlds they like to visit again and again. The series of twelve will continue throughout the summer. Here’s the first leg:

June 6: Close Encounters of the Third Kind

“One of the great moviegoing experiences.” – Roger Ebert

A family man is obsessed with meeting extraterrestrials after an encounter late one night, and is determined to reach the site where the US government has set up a landing strip for them. Legendary director François Truffaut plays a researcher who suggests using a musical language to communicate. In 1977 the idea of peaceful beings rather than warmongering monsters was groundbreaking. Introduced by Christopher Smalley, Operations Manager/Timebased Specialist at PF. (Steven Spielberg; 1977; 135 min)

June 13: A River Runs Through It

Set during the 20s in western Montana, the story follows two sons of a Presbyterian minister – one studious and the other rebellious – and their intertwining, often conflicting lives, lived in the shadow of their stoic father. Starring Brad Pitt and Tom Skerritt, much of this beautifully lyrical film extols the love of fly fishing for trout, and the boys’ shared experience of it. Oscar winner for Philippe Rousselot’s cinematography. Introduced by Dan Byrnes, Facilities Coordinator at PCA, who will also demonstrate fly fishing. (Robert Redford; 1993; 123 min)

June 20: Shane

American mythmaking at its best! Alan Ladd plays a mysterious knight on horseback who rides into the middle of a range war between farmers and cattlemen. While helping a farmer (played by the great 50s actor Van Heflin), Shane falls – platonically, of course – for the man's wife (Jean Arthur). But the friendship that develops between stoic Shane and the farmer’s young son is unforgettable. Introduced by Maureen O’Brien, Harris Theater Manager, and granddaughter of Van Heflin. (George Stevens; 1953; 118 min)

June 27: Lover Come Back

This hilarious send-up of Madison Avenue – made nearly 50 years before Mad Men – stars Doris Day, Rock Hudson and Tony Randall at their peak. Jerry and Carol are two competing ad execs. Will their rivalry lead to unscrupulous behavior? The script is tight, the jokes hold up, and Doris Day sings! Great character actors Anne B. Davis, Joe Flynn, Jackie Oakie help fill the bill. The dreamy Mad Men era looks even better in this sharp, archival print. Introduced by Carol O’Sullivan, Film History Professor/Media Relations Coordinator. (Delbert Mann; 1961; 107 min)

Melwood Screening Room – 477 Melwood Ave.

June 18 – 22: If It Ain’t Broke, Fix It

Back by request!

This feel-good local comedy stars: Adrienne Wehr, Patrick Jordan, Dave Petti; well-known celebs from stage, screen, and television – Richard Kind, Steve Guttenburg, Rondell Sheridan, Bill Nunn and Cheetah Girl Sabrina Bryan. And Dr. Ravi – writer, director and physician, who plays himself, is as philosophical as he is goofy. The premise in this farce-with-a-message is that when Ravi is told he has six months to live, he decides to improve the lives of six people in that time. But misunderstandings rule the day, plans go awry, and good intentions backfire. (Ravi Godse; Pittsburgh; 2009; 85 min)

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